The highest ranking Conservative cabinet minister in BC is applauding an MLA’s private members bill moving the province towards electing its senators.
While Heritage Minister James Moore says it is a step in the right direction he was more restrained about the provision to increase the number of Senators in BC.
Moore admits BC is under represented when it comes to the senate but the federal government is hesitant to open that can of worms.
He said “We have fixed that on the House side by adding six new seats in the House of Commons in the next Federal camapign on the Senate side it requires constitutional reform which means you have to have seven provinces constituting 50% of the population plus one if the constitution is going to be opened the senate will be one of many issues that will come forward and divide the country.”
Moore also takes issue with the sunset clause in the bill forcing BC to opt out if the number of Senators in the province isn’t increased in 8 years.
When asked if the clause might be a problem for Ottawa Moore said “Well we will see..it is not a government bill and that would be one thing I would hope that if Premier Clark and the provincial government are serious about this that they would table a government bill not just a private members bill by John Les it is a step in the right direction to be sure but if we had the full weight of the provincial government behind this that would be even better.”
Moore says Alberta has already elected 3 Senators while New Brunswick and Saskatchewan are also looking to make the move to electing Senators.
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